International Student Insurance Explained

As a general concept, insurance is not hard to understand; however, the intricacies of individual insurance
plans, and trying to understand all the different definitions, benefits and exclusions, can be overwhelming for
many students — especially if English is not your first language!

The International Student Insurance “Insurance Explained” section is here to help — with
information available in video and article format to help you dissect and understand the world of
insurance!

Each set of articles below explains a different topic, starting with the different types of health insurance plans
available to an international student, and then moving on to other core areas such as J1
and F1 insurance coverage.

This short video is an indispensable guide for any international students looking to study
or travel to the USA. With tips before you travel, to a complete overview of how the healthcare
system works - you can be prepared!... read article

This short video introduces the concepts of mental health for international students in the
US. Covering mental health awareness and warning signs, dispelling myths, and showing ways to
seek treatment, the video seeks to demystify a complex topic... read article

Sexual Assault is a growing concern for many international students, and with this video you
can learn all about what Sexual Assault is and the importance concept of consent, how you
can prevent an assault from happening and what to do if one does occur... read article

International Insurance Types

Learn more about the various types of international insurance — student health, travel medical, trip cancellation
or interruption, dental, etc. — that are available to you as a student. These articles will help you
understand the different coverages they each offer:

International student health insurance is tailor-made to meet the needs of students
studying outside of their home country, and this article will describe the key features,
coverage and approximate costs of these plans... read article

International medical insurance is designed as a long-term option, available for
individuals and families alike, and this article will describe the
key features, benefits, and
approximate costs of these plans... read article

Understanding Insurance

Learning about how you can understand your insurance plan and the process and systems can help de-mystify a lot of the
questions you may have. In this series, we delve into the specifics of the US Healthcare system and how you can make the
most of your insurance coverage:

To all international students studying in the United States, the US health care system
might seem impossibly complicated and confusing. This is because the US health care system
is impossibly complicated and confusing; most US citizens don't even fully understand it.
The following is a short guide to help you to better understand the US health care system,
so you will be fully prepared for your stay in the United States... read article

Health insurance regulation in the United States is very complex, with many layers of
regulation and required filings from federal and state authorities. However, for most
international students, the analysis is pretty straight-forward and a full understanding of
the daunting world of US health insurance regulation is unnecessary... read article

While health insurance in the United States can help pay most of your medical bills, there
will still be a portion that must be paid out of pocket. Use this article as a guide to help
you better understand these costs and to give you a better idea of what to look for while
shopping for health insurance... read article

While shopping for health insurance it's important to know what a provider network is and
how it affects the price you pay for health care. This article explains in detail the
advantages of going in-network and exactly what that means... read article

Plan Research

Making sure you thoroughly research your insurance plan before you purchase your coverage can help you find the best
option available to you and will avoid any surprises later. In the following articles, we detail the important
insurance terms and benefits you should be aware of as well as some vital tips and pitfalls to watch out for:

Finding an affordable student health insurance plan can be difficult, especially if there
are insurance terms you don't understand. Simply having the basic understanding of
insurance definitions can make the difference between having a plan that will cover you for
the majority of your medical expenses and one that leaves you paying thousands of dollars... read article

With so many healthcare options it's easy to become overwhelmed. Use the tips in this
article to help you better evaluate international student health insurance coverage, prices,
ratings and more... read article

Comparing Coverage Types

Some types of insurance can seem very similar at first glance, making it difficult to choose the correct coverage type.
Learn how to compare the different types of insurance coverage that are available to most international students, and
work out which option is a better plan for you and your needs:

To help ease the process of choosing between a trip cancellation and travel medical
insurance plan, we've created this article to describe the purpose, benefits and common
exclusions of each... read article

F1 Visa Insurance

One of the more popular student visa's, the F1 visa is used by many students and so knowing about the visa and all its
requirements is an important aspect for any student:

International Students studying in the USA are most typically entering on an F1 Visa, or F2
for dependents. Here are all the details you need to know about your visa, and how it
relates to health insurance... read article

The F1 Visa is one of the most popular visas for international students choosing to
continue their education in the USA. This article will outline the insurance requirements of
the F1 visa and the most common situations you will experience as an international student,
with regards to health insurance coverage... read article

J1 Visa Insurance

The J1 visa is also very popular for students, especially scholars, and this visa does have specific insurance
requirements that need to be met, so our J1 section will provide all this information:

International scholars and exchange students visiting the US for a short duration are
typically on a J1 Visa. Here you will learn more about the visa, its federal insurance
requirements and appropriate health insurance options... read article

This article provides a general overview of the J1 visa, including how to obtain the visa
and an outline of the application process. Also included are brief descriptions of the most
popular program categories and information on both studying and working in the US on the J
visa... read article

If you are traveling to the US on a J1 or J2 visa, you will be required to carry medical
health insurance for the full duration of your program. Many sponsor programs provide both
their students and dependents with health insurance, or you will be required to enroll in a
private health insurance plan. Either way, the US Department of State has minimum J1 health
insurance requirements that your insurance plan must meet (which applies to J2 visa holders
as well)... read article

OPT (Optional Practical Training)

An option for international students is to undertake optional practical training after their studies, allowing them to
work in the USA for a certain length of time:

Although there are several visa categories for international students in the United States
(including J and M categories), the majority of international students enrolled in US
colleges or graduate schools are under the F1 visa program. Under the F1 Visa, students are
allowed to work under OPT... read article

Applying for OPT is a technical process, one in which you will need to be aware of all
deadlines, solicit the help of your international student center and otherwise be on top of
the requirements. It's easy to mess it up! And if you do, your chances of finding a job in
the US will certainly be reduced... read article

H-1B Visa Insurance

If you will be working for a US employer, you will likely have an H1B visa that will allow you to work in the US for a
certain period of time. Students who work during their OPT period may be asked to stay on with a company for an extended
period of time, and switch to this non-immigrant visa:

Healthcare reform laws in the United States can be exceptionally confusing for visitors on
all visa types. These new requirements are clearly listed below along with your options as
an H-1B visa holder... read article

Health and Safety Abroad

Learn about top tips and tricks for when you are abroad to stay fit and healthy and avoid falling into traps that can
make you sick and ruin your experience abroad:

Sexual Assault is a growing concern for many international students, and with this video you
can learn all about what Sexual Assault is and the importance concept of consent, how you
can prevent an assault from happening and what to do if one does occur... read article

Mental Health

Mental health is a person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It has an effect on every part of a person’s life, including how they think, feel, and act.

Mental health is a person's emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It has an
effect on every part of a person's life, including how they think, feel, and act. It also
affects how a person handles stress, the choices that they make, and how they relate to
others. Mental health is important throughout a person's lifetime, but because problems
often manifest in a person's early twenties, it is especially important for college-aged
individuals to be aware of their mental health. In fact, 74% of all mental illness begins by
age 24... read article

It is definitely possible to lead a happy life with mental health problems, though it may
require discipline, self-reliance, perseverance, and a remarkable amount of support from
friends and family. Everyone is different, and while some may manage their mental health
problems with ease, others may have more difficulty, and may require more support. Remember
that there is no shame in asking for help... read article

There's a lot of misinformation about mental health floating around. Educating yourself and
others about some of these common myths can help to challenge much of the stigma surrounding
mental health... read article

There are a number of signs that could indicate mental health issues. While having one or
two of these symptoms does not necessarily mean that you have a mental illness, if you
notice that you are experiencing a number of the following symptoms, it is best to
seek out a mental health professional, especially
if they are interfering with your ability to study, work, or socialize... read article

While college can be a challenging time for any student, students coming to the US from
other countries and cultures very often face specific challenges that US-born students do
not. These challenges may include adjusting to a new academic and social environment,
culture shock or language
barriers, finding companions of one's own religion, language, or culture, homesickness, or
encounters with prejudice. International students may also experience pressure to succeed
from family members, as well as stress from issues related to navigating the paperwork and
requirements necessary for studying in the US. Additionally, international students have
often lost immediate access to their primary support system, since they have physically
moved away from their primary support... read article

Sometimes mental health issues are more than we can handle on our own. If your symptoms are
severe, or if they last for more than a few weeks, then it's important that you seek out
professional help. If you are experiencing a number of common signs of mental health issues,
especially if they are impacting your ability to function or people around you have
expressed concern, it is time to seek treatment. This can be very scary, but your mental
health is very important... read article

Dealing with health insurance can be extremely challenging, especially if you are already
dealing with stress and worry concerning your mental health. Healthcare in the US can be
very expensive, so choosing the right insurance plan is very important. Because some
insurance plans don't cover mental health care, it's vital to confirm what your plan will
cover if you seek mental health attention... read article

Sexual Assault Awareness

Sexual assault is an umbrella term that refers to sexual activity that you don't want or are forced to do. Often, people think that only forced intercourse, or rape, is really sexual assault, but any sexual activity performed without permission constitutes sexual assault.

Over the past few years, there has been more and more public discussion surrounding the subject of sexual assault on college campuses. According to a 2014 report by the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault, one in five college students experiences sexual assault during their college career, affecting people of any gender... read article

Sexual assault is an umbrella term that refers to sexual activity that you don't want or are forced to do. Often, people think that only forced intercourse, or rape, is really sexual assault, but any sexual activity performed without permission constitutes sexual assault. This can include kissing, exhibitionism (showing someone your genitals without permission), groping, and rape. Victims of sexual assault might be convinced to do sexual acts through verbal or physical threats or by taking or being given alcohol or drugs... read article

There is a lot of misinformation about sexual assault. These myths often serve to shift the blame for the assault from the perpetrator to the victim. We’ve compiled a list of some of the most common myths about sexual assault, as well as the facts... read article

It is important to remember that sexual assault is never the fault of the victim. If you are sexually assaulted, know that it is not because of something that you did or didn't do. There are steps that you can take to keep yourself safe in situations in which sexual assault is more likely... read article

Being a victim of sexual assault takes a huge toll, both emotionally and physically. It can be hard to figure out what to do and where to turn, and this can have a deep impact on your ability to cope with academic, social, and personal responsibilities. Here are some steps you can take to make sure you get the help and support that you need... read article

It is possible that you may find yourself to be a bystander to an instance of sexual assault. A bystander is someone who is present at an event but does not take part. As a bystander, it is important that you do what you can to prevent an attack from happening. It is equally important that you do not put yourself at risk, and that you do not make the situation worse... read article

Surviving sexual assault will affect many different parts of your life, including your academics and your social life. Remember that your school is there to help you; in fact, they have a duty to protect their students and ensure your safety. This may mean modifying your schedule or changing your living accommodations, if necessary. We will explore your school's duties and responsibilities in depth in the Title IX section... read article

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Resources forSchools & Organizations

Our insurance explained section is designed to help students understand
and navigate the world of student insurance. We would like to make our
resources available for use by your organization, including: